Little Rock Port Reports December Shipping

December was a busy month, the Little Rock (Ark.) Port Authority reported January 17. Logistic Services Inc. (LSI), the port’s stevedore, worked 32 barges at the port’s two docks. This volume pushed the total barge count to over 400 for calendar year 2017.

Total tonnage handled across the docks for the month of December was over 47,000 net tons. Commodities included frac sand, galvanized coils, lightweight aggregate, nepheline syenite, potash, sand, steel coils, urea, wetcake and wire rod coils.

The Port of Little Rock’s dock operations finished the year with LSI loading or unloading 402 barges with 610,000 net tons of cargo. There was an almost even split between bulk and breakbulk cargoes.

The Port of Little Rock’s diverse customer and cargo base led to another successful year across the docks, and early projections by customers indicate that 2018 should be another successful year with strong activity and tonnage, the port authority said.

During calendar year 2016, LSI handled 451 barges and 685,000 net tons of cargo at the Port of Little Rock. This represented the third-highest barge count and the second highest tonnage on record at the Port of Little Rock.

For calendar year 2017, the Arkansas River handled 11,918,919 total tons of commodities.

“Although tonnage is slightly down for 2017, the Port of Little Rock had a robust year handling commodities shipped up the Arkansas River and we are optimistic that 2018 will be just as strong, if not stronger,” said Bryan Day, executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority. “We are excited with the work LSI is doing and are hopeful that as the economy continues to grow, more and more manufacturers will recognize the value of the Arkansas River as a viable means to transport goods and commodities across the country.”